Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I agree with the Minister regarding the level of service on offer on the Cork to Dublin and Tralee to Dublin routes. It has been a success, which is evidenced by the large number of people availing of the service, and this makes last Thursday's wildcat strike all the more difficult for people to take. It affected many people who had made plans for the weekend and it affected them yesterday and today. Passengers cannot make plans and nobody knows where they stand for the week.

One driver refused to operate a roster last Thursday and 12 others went out in sympathy with him. Is 13 the total number of drivers involved? I accept many drivers want to return to work and they are not happy with the position in which they find themselves. This issue has been simmering for a long time and anyone who uses the rail service regularly will be aware of stoppages and delays. When issues have flared up previously, they were resolved in a few days. This is an unofficial dispute and I acknowledge the role the unions and the LRC are playing. However, is the Minister committed to the introduction of a "no strike" clause, particularly for essential services? Earlier, he seemed to indicate his support for such a provision. Can we take it he does and that he will introduce such a clause for a limited number of essential services in order that the public will not be discommoded to such an extent?

See this speech in context